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Down in paragraph three the Minister confirms a new school is planned for North Melbourne.

Four New Schools For Melbourne’s Inner City Families

11th Oct 2016

More than 5,000 new student places will be created for Melbourne families, with a further three new primary schools and a high school to be built in the inner city.

Minister for Education James Merlino and Member for Albert Park Martin Foley today released the Docklands School Provision Review and Stage 2 of the Andrews Labor Government’s Inner City Schools Package in response.

The Labor Government will build a new primary school at Docklands, with work to start immediately on acquiring the site. Planning will also start on a new primary and secondary school at Fishermans Bend and a new primary school at North Melbourne.

More than 90,000 students are forecast to enter Victorian schools over the next five years due to Victoria’s population boom and there is a growing demand for new schools in Melbourne’s inner city.

The Labor Government has already delivered a record $1.8 billion to build 42 new schools and upgrade hundreds more across the state to meet this enrolment demand. Under Stage 2 of the Inner city Schools Package announced today, the Government will also:

Build a new Docklands primary school with work to start immediately on acquiring a site

Identify sites and start planning for a new primary school at North Melbourne

Identify sites for both a primary and secondary school at Fishermans Bend

Secure a site to expand Albert Park College and provide five extra classrooms

Deliver the remaining funding for South Melbourne Park Primary School and Prahran High School

Open the new Richmond High School and Ferrars Street Primary School in 2018.

The Principal of Ferrars Street Primary School – the new vertical school at South Melbourne – will also be appointed 12 months before the school opens so local families can get enrolment support well in advance.

Inner city enrolment boundaries will also be changed so Docklands families will be able to send their children to Ferrars Street Primary School and University High School.

The Andrews Labor Government is building the Education State so every Victorian student has the opportunity for a great education and every community has access to a great school – no matter where they live.

Traffic management update: Traffic management is one of the major issues RAID has been raising with the City of Melbourne Officers and Councillors, in particular Cr Oke, in relation to the Woolworths site and the Haines/Shiel Street developments.

Residents have expressed concerns over the possible impact on residential amenity from the proposed North Melbourne Woolworths development site, both during its construction and following its completion. City of Melbourne has a number of measures either in place or planned to mitigate the impact.

The following traffic management measures are proposed in the vicinity of the Woolworths site:

traffic calming treatments in Shiel Street, subject to the support by the residents in the street

Dear RAiDers friends & concerned residents, we have had a number of requests for help in formatting an objection to the latest development opposite Gardiners Reserve,this one is at 114-116 Haines Street. So below is the standard text you can copy and paste into your own words.

The site owners have worked hard to fit to the current rules which you may or may not agree with but there are a number of issues with the current plan around things such as the easement, the light, balconies, car lifts, car parking etc. Many thank to the Save Gardiners Park campaign for their in put.

Objections close 5pm this Friday 21st November.

114-116 Haines Street proposed development , needs work on a few fronts

Melbourne City Council

Attention – Ms Josephine Lee

Planning and Building Department

Level 3, Council House 2

240 Little Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Email: planning@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Dear Ms Lee

Re: TP-2014-419, 114-116 Haines Street, North Melbourne

We recognise that development is required in inner city precincts such as North Melbourne. However we would encourage the City of Melbourne to ensure that all new develops are appropriately scaled for the area in which it is proposed and that developments are matched with social infrastructure that addresses the needs of the community. On this basis, we would like to object to the proposed development at 114-116 Haines Street, North Melbourne as we do not believe that it is sympathetic with the surrounding area, and rather than enhancing the neighbouring environment, it puts further pressures on existing infrastructure.

While we note that this proposed development may potentially adhere to the Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan, the sheared scale is completely out of context for the local area. As such we would like to objection on the following basis:

Given height of the structure there is a risk of overshadowing onto Gardiner Reserve, and there is clearly overshadowing on the adjoining roof top gardens at 118 Haines Street. All developments are required to look at overshadowing at the Equinox on 22 September at the times of 9am, 12 noon and 3pm. The overshadowing diagrams provided in the developers report for this property fail to show overshadowing at 3pm, and it is for this reason that we believe there will be overshadowing implications on Gardiner Reserve and neighbouring properties. There also seems to be an error with the existing overshadowing drawings as the drawings do not accurately reflect the orientation of the structures or the direction of north, which is providing an inaccurate representation of overshadowing on the properties.

Gardiner Reserve is the only playground in North Melbourne with BBQ and play equipment. This is no doubt the busiest playground in North Melbourne – enjoyed by both adults and children alike through winter and summer. Any overshadowing of this open space will have a dramatic impact on the ability for our community to enjoy this much loved open space and will also deny our right to natural sunlight.

There are only 23 car parks to accommodate the 31 buildings. This is does not provide adequate parking for those living in the property. It will also put additional pressure on the existing on street parking. There is currently a lack of car parking in Haines Street, which is already used by people (mainly construction workers) parking all day while they work in the city or on construction sites in North Melbourne or Parkville. This pressure on existing on street parking will only be increased by this development based on the proposed car spaces and other high density properties proposed at 110-112 Haines and 1 Shiel Street and 3-5 Shiel Street, which do not have enough car spaces to service each apartment. Based on the type of accommodation proposed at 114-116 Haines Street, the residents are likely to be young professionals who are renting and could be expected to own at least one, if not two, cars per apartment. We would ask that the Council issue instructions to the developer to provide at least one car space per unit, and two car spaces for the three bedroom unit, creating a total of 32 car parks. This will ease the pressure for on street parking.

No onsite car parking has been allocated for visitors at this development. This further strengthens the point made above re putting additional pressure on local streets for on-street parking. Provision should be made for on-site visitor parking.

The sheer volume of vehicles associated with this development, and neighbouring developments at 1 Shiel Street, 3-5 Shiel Street and 110-112 Haines Street, will amplify the safety hazard at the roundabout at Haines / Shiel / Dryburgh Streets. Residents in the area currently risk being hit by motorists every time they attempt to use the pedestrian crossings at this intersection. Numerous accidents and near misses have occurred due to the line of sight issues created by the position of the crossing on Shiel Street and because as motorists speed up through the intersection to avoid stopping for pedestrians or simply ignore the fact it is a pedestrian crossing. Changes need to be made immediately to avoid any further accidents prior to the commencement of any construction works in the Haines / Shiel Street area, and to ensure motorists and pedestrians alike are kept safe in the long-term when all of the proposed developments have been completed.

There are safety issues associated with the current configuration of vehicle access to the car park from the lane way. Based on the proposed configuration, vehicles would have to reverse down the lane should they encounter a vehicle coming in the other direction from the carpark. This presents a range of safety issues, both for residents at 114-116 Haines, but also those at 118 Haines and the ‘Taxi’ building. There is also lack of clarity around who owns these lane ways and if they are in fact formal lane ways. There seems to be an assumption that there is a formal lane way in 110-112 Haines Street that will be accessible to 114 – 116 Haines, but if this is not the case, there will be significant traffic issues.

The apartments are poorly serviced in terms of natural accessible light, with many of the rooms relying on secondary light from translucent panels and voids to service rooms. The balconies are also considerably small and do not provide enough space for a small table with two chairs, a clothes horse and a conditioning unit. This also raises the question that if there was a formal public laneway, that there would be windows put in the building to services these apartments, further highlighting the above issue that there may not actually be a public laneway available to service the proposed car park and access points.

There also seems to be an inaccurate representation in the developers report of the public transport that currently services (or doesn’t service) the area. The developer has stated that there is adequate public transport to the site with the Arden Street train station located nearby. This station does not even exist and is not likely to exist anytime soon. North Melbourne residents are currently provided poor public transport options with the 57 Tram being the closest option.

Given the impact on Gardiner Reserve, would encourage the Melbourne City Council to consider increasing the size of the Reserve by pushing it into Dryburgh Street. The widening of the park would increase the available open space in this area as well as creating a section of park that is less likely to be overshadowed by this development and those neighbouring. Such as development could be incorporated with the reconfiguration of the Shiel /Haines / Dryburgh Street roundabout, which would have the benefit of making the area safer for the community, while also increasing the open space footprint and creating new places for the community to meet.

INSERT ANY OTHER PERSONAL CONCERNS

Developments on major arterials, such as Curzon Street, Dryburgh Street, Arden Street, King Street and Abbotsford Street are only subjected to 4 storey developments which are more in keeping with the aesthetics of the area. Why is it that a quiet residential area that is heavily populated with young children, families and elderly people is being subjected to significant developments 10 storeys and above? We do not oppose development, but ask that it be in keeping with the local environment while also ensuring our open spaces and public infrastructure are not compromised as a result. Please consider the impacts and reject this application in its current form.

The owners of the Microwave Man in Haines Street (opposite Gardiner Reserve) have put in an application for a 10 storey complex with 31 apartments and 23 car spaces.

Please object to this development which will overshadow the park. Objections close 21 November (as per the attached picture).

Planning application number TP 2014-419

Let your local election candidates know we are VERY un happy about the planning process and absence of vision at State Level. We broadly accept medium density and development, but it must be infrastructure and services driven, 23 car spaces, who misses out and what is to stop them parking on street?

Dear RAIDers – disappointing outcome from last night’s FMC meeting – Council approved the development without change or recognition of the issues raised.

Old View 2013

Planning Permit TP-2014-115 for 1 Shiel St North Melbourne 3051

New Son of 2013 next to the purple monster in 2014.

Newly approved by MCC, 1 Shiel Street the new version 2014, note next door bulk and absence of a 15 meter 5 Shiel St development.

This was Council’s opportunity to put into practice their policy with regard to parks, amenity, height limits, planning gain and they failed at the first hurdle.

We appreciated that Rohan Leppert spoke against the Motion and foreshadowed an alternative Motion (supported by Cathy Oke) – to reduce the level by one storey – ‘deletion of level 3 or 4’ to conform with C190 ie 10.5 and 14.0 metres. This did not get to be put to the vote as the original Motion was carried 7 to 2 (Leppert and Oke).

The RAiD committee will meet Sunday night to prepare for the new Residential Zone Panel Hearing scheduled for mid September and to discuss other matters.

Woods 5 Shiel Street, Next for high rise? Will the MCC listen to residents?

It hass been confirmed another big development has been submitted to Council that will combined with 1 Sheil Street further over shadow Gardiners Reserve, in particular the play ground end. We will now have more than 140 apartments (so far) all of whose cars will exit on to the heavily used streets around the park, action to save our park coming soon.

Action is important as you don’t know what you have lost until it is gone. This view of the Park taken from Zojo.com.au playground equipment catalogue would be back dropped not by sky but a 30 meter wall of apartments along the park, no afternoon sun in winter like now while you watch the kids, like the linear park on Moonee Ponds Creek a view gone for ever, you can look back to a much lower density North Melbourne in 1928 in the image below.

Western view of play ground in Gardiners Reserve N Melb

View of North Melbourne with a sneak peak of Garndiners Reserve in 1928 from image from WikiMedia online.

In other breaking news, Australia Post is looking at redeveloping the Rosslynn Street WestMelbourne depo in a proposal that contains a whooping 501 apartments. Wonder if anyone is planning to build a school in the area shortly, or expand the gym, or make the pool 50 meters, build a new park, develop some age care or will we just keep adding people without facilities.

Finally the latest twist and turn concerning the North Melbourne Woolworths proposed development is that: the site which is up for sale has possibly been sold and an announcement is probable by 10 July. This would account for the frantic tidying up and boarding up reported on Facebook last week by eagle eyed & concerned RAiDers.

Rumour further has it that it has been sold at a loss from the purchase price, which when considered along with the development appeal legal costs and the holding costs for the site may explain why Red Capsicums are $7:99 or more a KG at their stores but less than $4:50 a KG at the North Melbourne IGA. News of these moves comes from deep in the Age article on the West Melbourne Post Office site of all places and not form Woolworths, The Minister for High Rise or the City Council. Here is a quote from The Age Online.

Last year supermarket giant Woolworths, despite bitter opposition from locals and the City of Melbourne, gained planning approval from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a supermarket and 300 apartments to be built in two high-rise towers in Canning Street, North Melbourne.

Woolworths put the site up for sale through CBRE’s Mark Wizel and Justin Dowers who confirmed that a transaction was imminent.

Fairfax Media previously reported it will change hands for more than $20 million.

A former lord mayor and chairman of North and West Melbourne Association, Kevin Chamberlin, said Australia Post should inform potential residents that the suburb lacked the infrastructure to support such large projects.

In further news today Thursday 10 July, Warehouse Number 5 at the bottom of Sutton Street is in the news as Solomon Lew wants to knock it down despite its heritage status.

They say their plans are for a car park? This seems a little odd given that it could only serve the station or maybe show grounds on a busy day & its value is estimated at $20 million. $20 million Car park, today, honest, apartment block tomorrow when its knocked down, surly no one would do that, would they?

In response to the number of enquires we have about the development proposed for the site at 1 Sheil St, we can confirm, it is a 10 storey, 27 meter plus high development. The planning permit number is TP 2014-115. You can see the application on the MCC site at this link here.

Every resident is free to object if they wish, some input has been provided by RAiD as a group. Numbers are important to the council in order to facilitate a review so if you feel strongly get involved.

While the design is by a very reputable architect, there are set backs and enough bike parks it is too big and with the plant on the roof significantly exceeds the most generous of high limits under the previous schemes.

Given the fact that we are about to lose the linear park to the freeway the communities concerns for the park and surrounds are understandable.

This site was subject to a planning application in 2013 – for a 6 storey, 22 apartment development– against which RAID submitted an objection. The proposal was subsequently approved by Council in late 2013 despite the many deficiencies highlighted in objections from the community including height and scale, overshadowing and impact on open space; and car parking and traffic management issues. And now a bigger, bolder, more intrusive and denser version is being proposed for the same site.

at 6.00 pm in the Auditorium, Level 1, NMFC, Arden Street, North Melbourne

Email Communication from the Committee.

Dear Neighbours – this email update provides important information about the RAID @ 3051 Annual General Meeting (AGM). Your attendance is important to ensure that community members have the opportunity to nominate for the RAID committee and are up-to-date about the status of the Woolworths development and other planning matters impacting on us.

The AGM is scheduled to commence at 6.00 pm and conclude by 7.00 pm and will be held in the Auditorium, level 1, North Melbourne Football Club (Arden St entrance).

RAID chairperson, Peter Hogg, will provide a Chairman’s report including an update on a recent conversation with Woolworths representative.

An invitation to the AGM is being sent to all people on the RAID email list, MCC Councillors and our local members of parliament and community groups. Please pass on this invitation to your friends and neighbours.

In breaking news after winning permission to build big, to build high, to sell liquor for extended hours Woolworths have nominated the site for sale with pre approved plans and an offer of a 20 year lease, wow. Would love to know the ins and outs of that move.

Here is the link to the commercial property page. Complete with the scary summary of just how many cars and apartments they have permission for.

As dissatisfaction with the community’s ability to have a valid and equal hearing with regard to planning outcomes at either, a City wide or State level grows the patch work of local groups with a neighbourhood or niche interests in planning are co a lessing around the newly formed IMPA. The Inner Melbourne Planning Association is a group with both strong professional connections as well community roots that may help swing the current asymmetrical battle between big , huge, larger or multi national and Ministerial vision projects back into a little more balance with residents aspirations. This will be a topic on the next RAiD meeting agenda. Kensington has recently expressed support as show in the online record of their Nov 2013 meeting. Follow the link here Kensington Association IMPA Nov 2013.